Rotating Disk Water Diverter for Low-Pressure-Loss Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water diverters in domestic appliances, such as washing machines and dishwashers, suffer from significant pressure loss due to their mechanical design, which is not suitable for sealing passage openings through flat rotating disks and results in inefficient water distribution.
Innovation Solution
A water diverter with an adjustable, rotating disk configuration that aligns passage openings in the same water flow direction, utilizing a Venturi effect to reduce pressure loss by configuring intake regions as funnel-shaped and eliminating the need for additional mechanical sealing apparatuses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical sealing apparatus with swivel tube is used in a cylindrical housing, then sealing is achieved, but pressure loss occurs due to water flow deflection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical swivel tube sealing system with a magnetic coupling system. The drive shaft is magnetically coupled to the rotating disk through the housing wall, eliminating the need for mechanical seals and swivel tubes that cause pressure loss. This substitution maintains reliable sealing while eliminating flow deflection and associated energy losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes magnetic field coupling instead of mechanical contact to transmit rotational motion. The magnetic coupling allows the drive shaft to rotate the disk through the housing wall without physical penetration, thereby maintaining hydraulic sealing integrity and preventing pressure loss that would otherwise occur through mechanical seal interfaces.
2Ease of operation
If a rotating slider with valve function is used to block and release pressure connections, then water distribution control is achieved, but pressure loss occurs due to flow deflection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the rotating slider valve mechanism with a directly controlled rotating disk system. The disk with passage openings is magnetically driven to rotate into position, eliminating the need for flow deflection through valve openings in a slider. This maintains ease of operation for water distribution control while eliminating the pressure loss associated with flow deflection through valve mechanisms.
3Loss of energy
If passage openings are aligned in the same water flow direction, then pressure loss is reduced, but the design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating disk serves multiple functions: it acts as both the fluid distribution element and the sealing surface. The passage openings are integrated directly into the disk structure, which rotates to connect different water supply paths to discharge paths. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall design while maintaining the beneficial aligned flow direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The passage openings are nested within the rotating disk structure, with the disk itself forming the containment and distribution system. The magnetic coupling mechanism is nested within the housing, allowing the disk to rotate without external mechanical connections. This nesting approach reduces component count and simplifies the design while achieving the pressure loss reduction through aligned flow paths.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution achieves a pressure loss of 20 mbar, allowing for a lower delivery rate and enabling the use of a less powerful pump motor, while ensuring efficient water distribution with minimal pressure loss and no additional sealing requirements.
Implementation Method 1
configuring intake regions as funnel-shaped and eliminating the need for additional mechanical sealing apparatuses
Data Source
AI summary
A water-bearing domestic appliance, in particular a dishwasher or washing machine, having a water diverter which is formed by an adjustable fluid distributor body provided with one or more passage openings. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, respective passage openings connect a respective water supply path to a respective water discharge path in such a way that the direction of flow of water into and out of the passage openings is established in essentially the same direction of flow of water.